Egyptian officials estimate that the 18-day revolution alone cost the country $1 billion in tourism revenue. And since Jan. 25, tour bookings have shown little sign of improvement.

That’s not gone unnoticed in a country where more than two million people make their living in the tourism industry, and generated $11.6 billion from 14.7 million visitors in 2009-10. According to Egyptian Minister of Tourism Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, this impacts “the livelihood of 1 in 7 Egyptians.”

The government’s own campaign — which emphasizes Egypt’s historic attractions and post-revolution safety — features the slogan “Online revolution: Made in Egypt” — as well as a Facebook page, Support the Tourism. Since the beginning of March, the Egyptian government has offered airlines and tour operators more than $100 million in collective recovery-plan incentives. (The government has also promised to increase tourist industry workers’ salaries by 15 percent.)

Egyptian students pose for pics to encourage the return of foreign tourists. (AP)Credit:

And while the Egyptian Tourist Authority attempts to woo travelers back to classic Land of the Pharaohs sites — the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh — several private operators are luring visitors with tours of Tahrir Square and other “New Egypt” landmarks.

Still, it may take a while until Egypt sees another 14.7 million-tourist year. Though major tour operators including Abercrombie & Kent and Grand Circle are now returning, regional unrest, reduced airline service, State Department warnings have lead many travelers to keep the country — and many of its neighbors — off their spring and summer travel itineraries.

And of course, there’s plain ol’ confusion: Even Turkey, which likes to think of itself more akin to Greece and Spain than Egypt or Tunisia, has seen a significant dip in tour bookings.